BURN STEPDOWN UNIT 8W

Cook County•Chicago, IL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Ward Clerk provides clerical support to the health care team, patients, families, and visitors at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital. The role supports efficient unit operations and communication while promoting a positive, customer-focused environment. The position is assigned to the General Surgery/Telemetry/Burn Stepdown Unit 8W and is scheduled from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Cook County and SEIU Local 73; eligible internal applicants are considered before external applicants. The Ward Clerk performs reception, communication, medical-record, administrative, and computer-related duties. The role supports patient admissions, transfers, discharges, appointments, census tracking, and coordination among patients, visitors, nursing staff, physicians, and other hospital departments. It also requires maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality, following hospital safety and emergency procedures, and complying with applicable policies and standards.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent; proof must be provided at the time of interview.
At least one year of clerical experience.
Basic computer skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and prompt emergency response skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for communicating with staff and patients from diverse cultures and age groups.
Analytical, organizational, problem-solving, critical-thinking, and conflict-management or resolution skills.
Attention to detail, accuracy, and precision.
Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced and stressful environment and make appropriate, timely decisions.
Ability to follow department policies and standards, apply best practices, and use an electronic health record.
Ability to follow HIPAA standards and confidentiality requirements for protected health information.
Adherence to hospital and department safety requirements, including personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, engineering controls, and work-practice controls.

Nice To Haves

Patient care experience.
Bilingual ability.
Knowledge of medical terminology.

Responsibilities

Receive, greet, and direct patients, visitors, and hospital personnel; check visitor passes and handle telephone calls courteously.
Record, communicate, and deliver messages accurately and promptly, while protecting patient privacy.
Notify the Admissions Office, physicians, nurses, Patient Information Desk, Environmental Services, and other appropriate personnel about admissions, transfers, visitor restrictions, emergencies, and room-cleaning needs.
Page and locate physicians and other hospital personnel or services as requested, and refer questions to appropriate personnel when needed.
Maintain forms, supplies, downtime charts, patient charts, medical-record forms, logs, census worksheets, snapshots, and statistical reports in an accurate and organized manner.
Complete admission, transfer, and discharge documentation; prepare medical records for Medical Records Department pickup; and manage related forms and patient valuables according to policy.
Conduct walking rounds at least every four hours and as needed to verify census, patient identification bands, and vacant beds.
Schedule outpatient and post-hospitalization appointments using the specified systems, and facilitate requested patient diet orders.
Apply patient labels to medical records and ensure patient identification bracelets match the patient census list at the specified times.
Conduct follow-up on late meal trays, late transport, and patients who do not return from tests or procedures.
Complete shift handoffs covering census and unit activity, including admissions, discharges, deaths, elopements, and transfers.
Enter and update discharge and other patient data in Cerner, Tele Tracking, and the OB QS Prenatal System; verify census and reconcile snapshots.
Clean Wyse terminals, keyboards, and printers; report equipment issues and safety hazards; and replenish or replace supplies and devices as needed.
Maintain patient and family rights, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality, including compliance with HIPAA and protected health information standards.
Attend required annual classes and competencies, maintain punctuality and attendance, follow dress and emergency procedures, adapt to workload changes, and cooperate in improvement activities.
Assist in orienting new personnel and other unit clerks, prioritize work, and perform other duties as assigned.